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This article explains the world of The Blood of Dawnwalker based on information discovered through actual gameplay as well as officially released material.
- A World Where Vampires Rose to Power in the Wake of the Black Death
- A Feudal Society Where Blood Is Paid as Tribute
- The Game's Unique Take on Vampires
- Magic
- Monsters and the Ancient World
- Plans for the Series
- Lore Analysis
- If You Want to Explore the Inspirations Behind The Blood of Dawnwalker
- Sources
- The Blood of Dawnwalker Guides
A World Where Vampires Rose to Power in the Wake of the Black Death
The game is set in AD 1347. With human society weakened by war and the Black Death, vampires seized the opportunity to step out of legend and become rulers in the real world.
In actual history, the Black Death is also believed to have begun spreading across Europe around 1347.
The world of The Blood of Dawnwalker is rooted in real history, with dark fantasy elements woven into it.
As in the historical period, literacy is low. A bookseller in the capital, Svartrau, mentions that few people know how to read and write.
Incidentally, Coen, the protagonist, can read because he learned to read and write Latin from Anca, a herbalist he has known for years.
A Feudal Society Where Blood Is Paid as Tribute
The Vrakhiri do not simply slaughter humans. Instead, they regularly collect blood as a form of tax. In Laslea, every adult is required to attend the Blood Mass every two weeks and offer their blood.
At the same time, vampire blood has the power to heal humans. Brencis demanded submission from the people in exchange for saving them from the Black Death.
The Vrakhiri are therefore both the beings who saved humanity and the ones who exploited humanity’s vulnerability to become its rulers.
Community Bulletin Board #9 – Coen’s Roots | Bandai Namco Europe
The Game’s Unique Take on Vampires
According to the developers, rather than simply using existing vampire folklore as-is, they created their own set of rules for vampires.
- A person does not become a vampire simply by being bitten.
- To transform someone, a vampire must pull out one of their own fangs and implant it into the target’s heart.
- A vampire’s fangs continue to grow throughout their life.
- The older a vampire becomes, the more fangs they develop, and in cases such as Xanthe, they can even grow through the skull.
- Murohni are beings whose transformation into vampires failed.
- When a fang is implanted into an animal, it can create a monstrous creature such as a Psoglav.
Overall, the game appears to place considerably more emphasis on building an original world inspired by folklore than on faithfully reproducing traditional legends.
Rebel Wolves’ The Blood of Dawnwalker Begins a Saga Spanning Eras
The Blood of Dawnwalker Interview Talks Time, Combat, Romance | The Outerhaven
Magic
Magic is not portrayed as something like flashy beams of light. Instead, it takes the form of ritualistic, occult powers involving things such as blood, heat, and vibrations in the air.
In theory, anyone can use magic, but the caster must follow precise gestures, formulas, and procedures, and failure can potentially cost them their life.
Because runes must be carved into the skin to act as “gates” through which magical power can pass into the body, Coen can use magic in his human form only during the day.
At night, his wounds close, causing the carved runes to stop functioning.
Coen can learn magic by reading instructional texts.
THE BLOOD OF DAWNWALKER – Gameplay Reveal Recap | Bandai Namco Europe
Monsters and the Ancient World
The monsters of Vale Sangora did not first appear with the arrival of Brencis. Monsters had already inhabited its forests, mines, swamps, mountains, and ancient ruins long before he came.
Creatures officially named so far include Murohni, Kobolds, Uriashi, Likho, Psoglav, Tatzelwurm, and Ancient Undead.
Uriashi, in particular, possess intelligence comparable to humans, and many of them live and work within society as soldiers or hired muscle.
Community Bulletin Board #5 – Secrets of Vale Sangora | Bandai Namco Europe
Community Bulletin Board #7 – Beasts & Monstrosities, Illustrated | Bandai Namco Europe
Plans for the Series
As discussed in my article covering the Dawnwalker Saga, a larger series centered on Coen is planned to span multiple eras, regions, and cultures, with The Blood of Dawnwalker serving as its first installment.
The teaser cited in that article even includes a rather edgy scene set in the 21st century, in which Coen receives a delivery of blood bags from a courier.
Lore Analysis
Lore Deep Dive: How Did Brencis Justify His Rule? [The Blood of Dawnwalker] – Kaburanai Games
If You Want to Explore the Inspirations Behind The Blood of Dawnwalker
Official materials explicitly state that the landscapes and cultures of Central and Eastern Europe inspired the game’s setting.
The monsters and vampire traditions, in particular, draw upon Romanian and Slavic folklore.
If you are interested in Romanian folklore, check Roumanian Fairy Tales (Amazon).
The officially cited inspirations for the game’s vampires include Dracula, Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, True Blood, World of Darkness, and Vampire: The Masquerade.
View Nosferatu (Robert Eggers) on Amazon
For readers wondering just how devastating the Black Death really was, The Black Death, The Great Mortality of 1348-1350: A Brief History with Documents is one of the more accessible books on the subject.
Sources
Community Bulletin Board #6 – Creating a World | Bandai Namco Europe
Rebel Wolves’ The Blood of Dawnwalker Begins a Saga Spanning Eras
